If you live in Southwark, can your children go to school in Lewisham?

[mummynegin]

We live in Southwark, but only one street away from Lewisham. Our closest primary school is Horniman School, which is in Lewisham. We're about the same distance away from both Goodrich (Southwark) and Fairlawn (Lewisham). Are we restricted to the Southwark schools only or can we apply for Lewisham schools as well?

We're actually a year away from having to apply, but it would be good to know now so we have a better idea of what our options are.

[clux]

Yes. I live in southwark and my daughter goes to a lewisham school. You have to apply via southwark.

[mummynegin]

Thanks, that's very helpful and gives us a few more choices.

[chantelle]

as stated, you apply through Southwark, but you may find the info in the new Lewisham admissions brochure useful

http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/StartingSchoolinLewisham2012-13.pdf

[EDmummy]

We now apply under the pan London application - one form covering all of London. The only thing to consider is the admission policy for any prospective schools as they are all heavily oversubscribed and if they have a distance criteria, may mean there is not a chance of getting in.

[prdarling]

Reality is that you will get offered the school you are closest to ..... unless you are not close enough. In which case they will look down your list and see if any of your preferences have a space for you. if none of them do, you will be offered a school in the borough you live in but which may not be on your original list.

The fact is that our primary schools are very over subscribed so unless you live very close to the school (within a couple of hundred meters) you may not get in on the first round.

I would probably put Horniman down first if it's your closest and then Goodrich and Fairlwan in preference order. Unfortunately Goodrich bulged in 2009/2010 and Fairlawn and Horniman in 2010/11 so there won't be extra places at these schools and there may be a higher number of siblings taking places next year/year after.

It's a minefield, so take your time to read all of the admissions reports/policies tec and you can find out from the councils the last place offered in terms of distance so you can assess your chances.

Also if you don't get a place when the offers first come through, things move incredibly quickly and places do become available

Good luck :)